The demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland (West Bengal) has been simmering for decades, with its source in the struggle for a unique identity between the Nepali and Bengali-speaking populations of West Bengal. Candidates can know in detail about Gorkhaland in this article, which is included in the UPSC Indian Polity and Governance Syllabus.

Gorkhaland

• Gorkhaland is primarily made up of Nepali-speaking inhabitants from Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Kurseong, and other West Bengal highland districts. People from these locations have ethical, cultural, and linguistic distinctions with West Bengal's Bengali group.
• Darjeeling's aspiration for independence as a separate administrative territory dates back to 1907. However, the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), led by Subhash Ghising, raised awareness of the issue, and the term "Gorkhaland" was adopted in 1980.
• The Gorkhaland Movement is primarily concerned with the demand for an independent Gorkhaland state within West Bengal's Darjeeling Hills.
• The region is known for its popular tea plantation and spans the Dooars and Terai regions of West Bengal.

Who are the Gorkhas?

• They are a mixture of castes and tribal-ethnic clans.
• The KhasParbatiyas, which comprise Bahun (Brahmins), Chhetri, Kami, Damai, Sarki, and others, are among the caste groups.
• Gurung, Magar, Tamang, Thami, Sherpa, and other ethnic groups (mainly Schedule Tribes or Other Backward Class groupings) are among the ethnic groups.
• Despite the fact that each of them has its own language (belonging to the Tibeto-Burman or Indo-Aryan languages), the Gorkhas' lingua franca is Nepali, which uses a Devnagari script.
• The Nepali language, one of India's official languages, is the common thread that runs through all Gorkha castes and clans.

Reasons for demanding a separate state

• Ethnicity, culture, and language differences.
• The Gorkha ethnic culture of Nepal and India differs from Bengali culture.
• Poverty, biased development strategies, and politicization of the issue are all issues that need to be addressed.
• According to some historians, the Gorkhaland issue arose from a combination of administration failure and politicization.
• The demand has gained even greater clout as a result of the historical practice, particularly post-independence, of the issue erupting only when it is fostered by political goals.

History of Gorkhaland

Chogyal of Sikkim governed the region prior to the 1780s.

1780

• The Gorkhas invaded Sikkim and took control of the majority of the state, including Darjeeling and Siliguri.
• They were in charge of it for 35 years.

1816

• After the Anglo-Gorkha war, Nepal ceded its land to the British in the Treaty of Segoulee (1816).
• Darjeeling, Siliguri, the entire Terai, Simla, Nainital, Garhwal Hills, Kumaon up to the Sutlej are included in the ceded territory, i.e. the entire region from Teestato to the Sutlej.

1835

The regions were returned to the Chogyals of Sikkim by the British in 1817 (Treaty of Titalia), but were later taken again by the former for political reasons in 1835.

1864-66

• In 1864, the British and Bhutan signed the Treaty of Sinchula, which made the Bengal Duars and Kalimpong a part of the Darjeeling highlands.
• In 1866, the present-day Darjeeling district was established.
• With the introduction of tea cultivation by the British in 1865 and the construction of the Darjeeling narrow gauge railway line, a large number of people moved here permanently.
• These individuals did not understand the concept of international borders as we do now.
• They were aware that the land belonged to their king, and when they went to work as laborers for a British company, they believed they were carrying out the orders of the Gorkha King.
• They were always aware that they were in their own country.
• When these events occurred, India, as we know it now, had not yet been founded, and all of these people, whether Gorkha or Bengali, were British subjects.

1907

The Hillmen's Association of Darjeeling was the first to advocate for a separate administrative unit in Darjeeling.

1941

It requested Darjeeling's secession from Bengal and its designation as a chief commissioners province in 1941.

1952

The All-India Gorkha League sends a memorandum to then-Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, requesting independence from Bengal.

1955

Daulat Das Bokhim, the President of the District Shamik Sangh, delivers a memorandum to the Chairman of the State Reorganisation Committee, requesting the formation of a new state comprised of the districts of Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, and Cooch Behar.

1977-1981

The West Bengal government approves a unanimous resolution in favor of the formation of an autonomous district council for Darjeeling and the surrounding areas. The bill has been sent to the federal government for consideration. Pranta Parishad sends a memorandum to then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1981, demanding an independent state.

1980-90

• Under the leadership of Subhash Ghising, the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) was founded in 1980.
• The GNLF, the state of Bengal, and the Centre sign the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council agreement in 1988. The Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council was formed. The GNLF abandons its desire for a breakaway state.
• Under the leadership of Gorkha National Liberation Front supremo Subhas Ghising, the demand for Gorkhaland grew stronger in the 1980s.
• During the years 1986-88, the movement becomes increasingly violent, with over 1,200 people dead.
• In 1988, the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) was created after a two-year dispute.
• 2007-During the final stages of the left front's administration, the Gorkha Janmurti Morcha (GJM) supremo Bimal Gurung leads a mass movement for Gorkhaland.
• Following a 2005 move by the Centre and state governments to find a lasting solution for this region by adding it to the sixth schedule of the constitution, which grants some autonomy to a primarily tribal area, the 2007 Gorkha revolt intensified.
• The Gorkhas, on the other hand, are opposed to the sixth schedule and demand that statehood be expedited.
• The four-year campaign came to an end in 2011 when the State Government established the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA), a semi-autonomous administrative body for Darjeeling, with Gurung as its leader.
• With the establishment of Telangana on July 20, 2013, the fight for Gorkhaland has re-ignited.

Significance of Gorkhaland Movement

• It is one of India's oldest movements that have yet to be fully addressed.
• It affects India-Nepal relations from a geopolitical standpoint. The treatment meted out to the hill people of Nepal will determine the fate of people of Indian descent in Nepal (Madesis in Terai belt)
• Furthermore, because Nepal is critical for India's ability to achieve regional balance in the face of China's expanding presence in the country, this issue becomes a rallying point for a constructive geostrategic and geopolitical foreign policy in the region.
• Gorkhaland is strategically located. It is the chicken neck's connecting connection between the rest of India and the North East. As a result, India's stability is critical.
• Due to tea and tourism, Darjeeling has had a good impact on the region. It is critical that this region be socio-politically stable in order for this economic model to succeed.

Probable Solutions

• The first stage can be effective and meaningful communication and co-engagement.
• According to political scientists, the State Government must engage in political outreach to all stakeholders in order to restore its legitimacy.
• The academicians believe that focusing on the police, administrative techniques, and rule by fiat should be abandoned in order to restore peace.
• Any premature action, such as partitioning the state and awarding rapid statehood, should be avoided since it may set off a domino effect, resulting in more protests.
• Furthermore, every new state must have the necessary infrastructure, administrative resources, and political capital, as well as proper and precise agreements, or it risks fomenting fissiparous tendencies. As a result, a more negotiated agreement is expected to be reached through peaceful discourse and political mobilization.

Conclusion

• Development is not a panacea for identity movements, as history has shown. For example, in Tibet, where Chinese large-scale development could not destroy the people's desire for self-respect and self-esteem. Similarly, the Indian Independence movement was not motivated by a lack of progress, but rather by a desire for a distinct and united Indian identity. As a result, a little more empathy and sensitivity, rather than political vested interests, might open more doors to a reasonable and peaceful solution.
• Directly generating a new state, on the other hand, may pose some stability difficulties. The establishment of a new state necessitates the development of physical, economic, and strategic infrastructure. Furthermore, the stability of a new state like Gorkhaland must be considered in the perspective of a growing Chinese presence in the region, so as not to jeopardize the Indian Union's unity and integrity in the future. As a result, the pragmatic path forward is a communal decision involving co-engagement and consensus among all parties.

FAQs

Question. What is Gorkhaland?

Question. Why do the Gorkhas want a separate state?

Question. What is the history of the Gorkhaland movement?

Question. How has the Gorkhaland movement evolved over the years?

Question. What is the role of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM)?

MCQs

1. When did the demand for Gorkhaland first emerge?

A) 1947

B) 1907

C) 1952

D) 1971

2. Who was the leader of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF)?

A) Bimal Gurung

B) Subhash Ghising

C) Jyoti Basu

D) Mamata Banerjee

3. Which agreement led to the creation of the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC)?

A) The Darjeeling Agreement

B) The Gorkhaland Agreement

C) The 1988 Agreement

D) The GTA Agreement

4. What was the key demand of the Gorkhaland movement?

A) Reservation in jobs

B) Separate statehood

C) Political autonomy

D) Recognition of the Nepali language

5. When was the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) established?

A) 1991

B) 2007

C) 2011

D) 2015

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1. Examine the socio-political factors that contributed to the demand for Gorkhaland in West Bengal.

Answer: The demand for Gorkhaland arose from a mix of socio-political and cultural factors, primarily the perceived marginalization of the Gorkha community in the predominantly Bengali-speaking state of West Bengal. Linguistic and cultural differences between the Gorkhas and the Bengalis, coupled with economic disparities, led to the rise of the movement. The Gorkhas, predominantly Nepali-speaking, felt politically and socially excluded, especially with regard to representation in the state's administration. The failure of successive governments to address these issues contributed to the demand for an independent state. Furthermore, the political motivations of local leaders such as Subhash Ghising and Bimal Gurung fueled the Gorkhaland movement, culminating in the formation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration in 2011.

Q2. Discuss the role of the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) in the Gorkhaland movement.

Answer: The Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF), led by Subhash Ghising, was the principal organization advocating for the creation of Gorkhaland. In the 1980s, the GNLF mobilized the Gorkha population in Darjeeling and surrounding areas to demand a separate state within West Bengal. The movement turned violent at times, leading to numerous casualties. Despite this, the GNLF's efforts led to the 1988 agreement between the GNLF and the West Bengal government, which established the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC). Although the DGHC was a significant achievement, the GNLF's demand for full statehood persisted, and the GNLF eventually backed down from the statehood demand after the formation of the DGHC.

Q3. Analyze the implications of the demand for Gorkhaland on India’s federal structure.

Answer: The demand for Gorkhaland raises important questions regarding India’s federal structure, particularly the role of linguistic and ethnic identities in the creation of new states. The movement highlights the challenges in balancing regional aspirations with national unity. If granted, Gorkhaland would set a precedent for other ethnic and linguistic groups across India seeking similar autonomy. The creation of Gorkhaland would need to be handled carefully to avoid sparking similar demands in other regions, which could strain India’s federal framework. The Gorkhaland issue underscores the need for responsive governance that accommodates regional diversity while ensuring national cohesion.

Previous Year Questions on  Gorkhaland

1. UPSC CSE 2023

Question: "Analyze the socio-political demands of the Gorkhaland movement and its implications on the political landscape of West Bengal."

Answer: The Gorkhaland movement has been driven by socio-political demands for cultural and linguistic recognition, political autonomy, and economic development. The movement has had significant implications for the political landscape of West Bengal, leading to internal strife and a shift in local politics. It has also strained relations between the Gorkha community and the state government. The creation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration in 2011 was a partial resolution, but the full demand for a separate state remains a contentious issue.

2. UPSC CSE 2022

Question: "Evaluate the role of political leadership in the Gorkhaland agitation and its impact on the region."

Answer: Political leaders like Subhash Ghising and Bimal Gurung played pivotal roles in the Gorkhaland agitation by rallying support for statehood among the Gorkha community. Their leadership brought the issue to national attention and resulted in both violent protests and political negotiations. The impact on the region was profound, with frequent unrest and casualties during the movement, and the eventual formation of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration marked a partial success but failed to address the core issue of full statehood.